Uithalen

Uithalen is a Dutch verb with several related meanings centered on performing an action, often with an element of seize, surprise, or trick. The basic sense is to fetch, pull, or take something out, and the form is built from uit (out) and halen (to fetch, to pull). In everyday use the verb is separable in the present tense, for example: hij haalt een grap uit (he pulls a prank). The perfect tense is gevormd with hebben: hij heeft een grap uitgehaald.

A common and distinctive use is the expression een grap uithalen, meaning to pull off a prank or to trick someone. This sense emphasizes spontaneity or mischief rather than a harmful act. The phrase can also refer to more general actions that involve performing or executing something, as in het plan uithalen (to carry out the plan) or een stunt uithalen (to pull off a stunt).

A second, more literal sense is to fetch or take something out from a place, such as uit de doos halen (to take out of the box) or uit de zak halen (to pull from the pocket). In this sense uithalen behaves like other separable verbs, with the object appearing between halen and uit in the present tense.

The related noun uithaal can denote a single act, jab, or strike, and in informal use can refer to an insulting remark or taunt, e.g., Dat was een gemene uithaal.

See also: uithaal (noun).